Amalgamator.



AMALGAMATOR.

(Applicltion filed. m. 7, 1899.

(No Modal.)

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THE u'oams PUERS cc. FMOTD-LITHQ. msnma'rou. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES GARRETT GARRISON AND JAMES ALEXANDER FITZSIMMONS, OF

VANCOUVER, CANADA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM SHRUB- SOLE COPLAND, OF SAME PLACE.

AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,009, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed February '7, 1899. Serial No. 704,825. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES GARRETT GARRIsoN and J AMEs ALEXANDER FITZSIM- MoNs, citizens of the United States, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British 00- lumbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in machines for extracting gold and other precious metals from auriferous gravels, sands, or reduced ores; and its object is to provide a maximum surface of amalgamating-plates for the auriferous matters to be passed over,

I 5 with the occupation of a minimum of space, by arrangingsuchamalgamatingsurface or chute spirally around and fixed to a revolving vertical shaft which is moving in the opposite direction to the flow of the materials treated,

which movement of the chute keeps the said materials in constant agitation. We attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section 2 5 of our machine. This shows the general arrangement of the different parts and the mode of operation. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detailed sectional elevation of the spiral chute having the amalgamating-surface, and Fig. 3

0 is a plan of the same.

Similar numerals and letters refer to similar parts in the different views.

The supporting-frame A is arranged with four or more vertical columns a at each end,

3 5 these being securely tied together by horizontal pieces I), o, and d.

Arranged between the columns a on one side of the frame and supported by the crosspieces 0 is a chamber 10. This chamber is suitably stayed, and to its bottom is securely fixed a step 11. Resting on the step 11 and with its upper end suitably journaled in a bearing 12 is a shaft 13.

Arranged to be slipped over the shaft 13 5 are sleeves 14, having segments of a spiral chute 15 rigidly secured thereto. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) These sleeves 14 and the sections 15 are true duplicates, and they are detachably jointed together by small lugs or keys 16, lying in recesses 15 in each successive sleeve beneath. (See dotted lines in Fig. 2.) The outer, edges of the sections 15 are turned upward for the depth of the pitch of the spiral formed thereby, thus forming a spiral chute for the passage of the water and auriferous matter without allowing it to come in contact with the Walls of the chamber 10.

Suitably journaled in bearings 17, resting 011 the upper portion of the frame A, is a shaft 18, and on the end of this shaft is a fixed pinion 19, which meshes with a bevel-wheel 20, fixed on the upper end of the shaft 13. This shaft 18 may be turned by abelt taking around the wheel 21, fixed thereon, or when operating in a small Way the hand-crank 22 may be utilized for transmitting the required movement.

Arranged in the lower part of the chamber 10 is an outlet 10, to which is connected a sluice 23, having the usual riffles 24: on its surface. This will check any heavy gold not taken up by the amalgamating-passage around the shaft 13.

As shown in Fig. 1, anumber of the spirallyarranged and moving columns may be arranged in succession, according to the conditions of the materials to be treated. For instance, if it is found that any of the flour gold is escaping or is not being taken up by the amalgamating-surfaces in the spiral chute the operation may be repeated one or more times, as is found requisite.

To prevent the sleeves 14 having the spiral segments fixed thereto from turning,the lower one is resting on a fixed collar near the bottom of the shaft 13, and this collar is provided with a recess for the key 16 to lie therein, and the other sections are built up in like man ner. This provides a very simple and effective means for changing the sections, the need of which will be seen presently.

As before intimated, by reason of the shaft 13 having an opposite movement to the passages of the matters being treated the spiral passage will be moving against the flow of the water and auriferous matters. This will cause the said water, sand, and other matters to be constantly rolled over and over and brought in repeated contact with the amalgamating-surfaces within the spiral chute, which is the important desideratum.

In the operation of our invention the sections 15, forming the spiral chute or passage, which are of copper or the proper material for retaining the mercury, are coated with mercury, both walls and floor of the chute being coated. The sections are then placed on the shaft in their proper position. The inletflume 25 is connected with the supply-sluice for the water and gravel or pulp. The shaft 18 is put in motion, which transmits movement to the spiral channel or chute, and thus causes the movingmatters to be thoroughly agitated before being ejected to the riffles 24. \Vhere a repetition of the operation is necessary, the washed material is passed out over a waste-apron 26. lVhen the amalgam-coated. sections 15 become loaded with the precious metal, it is simply necessary to remove such ones and replace them with fresh sections. This insures against serious stoppage for cleaning up and provides that the operation is comparatively continuous.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to be protected in Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a chamber; of a shaft rotatable therein, and a series of superimposed spiral segments mounted upon the shaft, said segments having amalgamatingsurfaces and being each of a diameter to snuglyturn within the casing, the several sections being adapted to rotate with the shaft,

the outer edges of each segment being turned up vertically the depth of the pitch of the spiral formed thereby, wherebya spiral chute for the passage of the water and auriferous material without allowing the same to come into contact with the inner walls of the chamber, is provided for the purposes specified.

2. The combination with the cylindrical casing 10, opening at the top and having an outlet at the bottom, of a shaft projected vertically through the casing; means for rotating the said shaft; a series of spiral segments having amalgamating-surfaces, said surfaces being detachably connected to the shaft and rotative therewitl1,said segments being adapted to be independently removed from the shaft, each section having an upturned outer edge of the depth of the pitch of the spiral formed thereby, whereby said segments are disposed in successive engagement to constitute a continuous spiral chute or runway, the outer edges of the sections traveling contiguous to the inner surface of the casing, whereby the water and auriferous material is held from contact with such casing and caused to continuously flow through the chute or runway and finally escape through the outlet at the bottom of the casing.

CHARLES GARRETT GAlllllSON. JAMES ALEXANDER l llZSUlYllONS. \Vitnesses:

W. G. TRETHEWEY, ROWLAND BRITTAIN. 

